FISU extends archive offering to streaming platforms

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) has stepped up its offering of archive sports content during the Covid-19 shutdown of sports by launching the #UniSportsClassics venture.

FISU has already opened its archive of television-quality content to broadcasters and member federations, but will now seek to reach audiences directly with full competition replays of medal events from the summer and winter Universiades, and World University Championship events.

FISU will provide repeats of classic events on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays on the FISU.tv streaming service, and its YouTube and Facebook social media channels. For Chinese-speaking audiences, FISU will offer the content via the Weibo platform.

FISU said in a statement: “FISU looks forward to also continue working directly with the world’s leading broadcasters to bring as much university sports content to people’s homes through linear television broadcast.

“With the digital savviness of university student-athletes and fans well-known, FISU will enhance its immersive online experience by allowing fans to select their favourite competitions for re-live stream until further notice.”

In February, FISU agreed a four-year rights deal with international sports broadcaster Eurosport. The contract, running from 2020 to 2023, includes live and delayed television coverage of FISU sports events, starting with the Lucerne 2021 winter Universiade and continuing through the 2021 World University Games in Chengdu; Ekaterinburg (2023); and Lake Placid (2023).

The deal includes live and delayed television coverage of FISU sports events, along with digital advertising and activation, and editorial coverage of notable university sport news. The broadcast content will be shown on the linear channels Eurosport 1 and 2 in 54 European countries, and in the 12 Eurosport countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Other international sports federations to have turned to archive content to retain a touchpoint with their fans have included Fifa, the FIH, FEI, the ITF, the ITTF and the ICC.

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